TOPEKA – 31-year-old Dan Alan Sanchez, of Wichita is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 18, 2010, in Sedgwick County.

Sanchez initially was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed April 29, 2010. According to the complaint, on Feb. 18, 2010, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department stopped Sanchez, who was driving a white Cadillac Escalade. Investigators found $5,600 in Sanchez’s pocket and a black duffle bag in the back seat containing more than $23,000 in cash. They also seized methamphetamine and a .40-caliber handgun.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,0000 on the charge of unlawful possession by a felon, and a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the methamphetamine charge.

Also from federal court, 24-year-old Dustin Ray Mendez, of Salina is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of attempting to tamper with a federal witness. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October 2009, December 2009 and April 2010 in Saline County.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and fine up to $250,00 on each of the firearms charges and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the witness tampering charge.